Of all the symbols of the 12 days of Christmas – the holly, ivy and mistletoe; the wreaths, tree and decorations; the turkey and plum pudding – none is so…
Sir Johnny Scott
Shooting from a high seat
Shooting from a high seat is not for everyone but it is an ideal way to control deer numbers and provides a sound base for a first shot with a…
Falconry: a most ancient and noble art
Falconry is one of the fastest-growing country pursuits, with 25,000 people (5,000 of whom hunt with hawks) involved, who between them keep about 75,000 birds of prey. There are more…
The history behind Christmas traditions
In the hall of the rambling Elizabethan farmhouse of my childhood was a wide, inglenook fireplace. Every Christmas Eve, the gardener drag-ged in an enormous Yule log, balancing it with…
The history of terriers: small wonders
Size is nothing to go by when it comes to our smallest sporting companions. Terriers were bred carefully to be the ideal opponent to their quarry. Sir Johnny Scott takes…
Types of grouse: which is toughest?
Types of grouse is a passionately debated point. Are there distinct subscpecies of our favourite gamebird and, if so, which is the toughest? Sir Johnny Scott investigates whether Scottish grouse…
Sheep breeds: why we’re always a little sheepish
Could you name all of Britain’s sheep breeds? There is an astonishing variety grazing our hills today. Johnny Scott unravels the history of the country’s sheep farming to explain why…
Winter solstice traditions: a bleak but beautiful mid winter
The days are shortening and darkness has descended – midwinter is more certainly bleak. But the colour brought by the winter solstice traditions, expertly adopted into our culture by the…
How to carve meat well and the history of carving
Knowing how to carve meat well is an essential skill, but one fewer and fewer people possess. Whether you are attempting a festive turkey on the 25th or a simple…
Christmas animals: bestiary of a feast day
From uncomplaining donkey to traitorous wren, animals have always played a part in Christian iconography. The Field examines their role in celebrating Christmas